Resilient Canadians Look to Bounce Back in SVNS Playoff Decider
(BBC Rugby Union, May 26, 2023)
As the Canadian men’s rugby team exited the Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday, there was a palpable sense of disappointment after their narrow 14-7 loss to the USA. The undesirable losing streak has continued, and the Canadians know they need to turn things around quickly.
Despite the defeat, the Canadians remain determined to secure core status for the 2024/25 SVNS Series season. With half of the eight-team bracket set to earn this coveted distinction, Sunday’s fourth Championship knockout decider presents a crucial opportunity for the Canadian squad.
“We’ve obviously had a few good results this season and obviously a lot of tough ones too,” said Canada’s Thomas Isherwood. “We’re in these games until the end against a lot of the great teams, and historic teams too, so we’re obviously very proud of what we can do and we know what we can achieve, so we’re going to give all that out tomorrow.”
Despite the loss to the USA, the Canadians showed marked improvement from their previous defeats against Uruguay and Germany. The match against their North American rivals was a tense affair, with the score deadlocked at 7-7 until a late try from the Eagles’ Malacchi Esdale proved decisive.
“It’s a bit of a weird feeling,” Isherwood admitted. “We’ve been building a lot this year. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity as a team. We had a really good two-week training block coming up to this, and obviously it’s a lot that these Challenger teams are coming up and really putting on the pressure.”
The Canadians’ determination is evident, as they know the significance of the upcoming decider. With many sacrifices made by coaches and players alike to represent the Canadian jersey, the team is eager to secure core status and continue their international journey.
“A lot of people dedicate a lot of time to this and sacrifice a lot,” Isherwood said. “Obviously rugby in Canada is not the biggest thing, so a lot of people give up a lot of their time for me to be here, and that’s a lot of coaches in the youth and all that kind of stuff, that all plays into this, so we’re all very proud to wear this jersey and we’re excited to represent tomorrow.”
As the Canadians prepare for the decisive match, their resilience and belief in their abilities will be crucial factors in their quest to retain core status for the 2024/25 SVNS Series season.
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